Court was amazing - 30 minutes and we were out the door. No speeches, no lengthy questions....the doctor spoke, as did the social worker, and then just simply asked us what we each wanted the court to do. We had prepared our recommended statements, but we were told to keep it short! The judge approved the adoption of Iliana Ainur Moss in the first 20 minutes! We made it back to the baby house in time for 1 hour of playtime for the morning. Technically, we wait for 15 more days according to Kaz law to see if anyone here will contest the adoption. (doesn't happen) I think it hits on Sept. 1, which then all her paperwork passport, visa etc. can be processed. Return date is about 3 weeks from there we guess.
We leave for Almaty in the morning and will have the day to spend sight seeing. We hope to get to the mountains. We leave for the airport at 1:30am - so we will try to get a little sleep. ;-)
Promise to get the pictures in Snapfish as soon as possible.
Love to all of you.
terri, craig and sean
Monday, August 17, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Our Last Weekend
I must write about our Friday before I forget everything. Craig got sick Thursday afternoon, and was wiped out by bed. All day Friday he was home, and couldn't see Lily. So, Sean and I made our usual morning visit. As I was feeding Lily, I noticed that Sean was no where to be found. I looked and looked...nothing! I didn't panic, he couldn't have gotten too far. Well, I finally ventured over to the other baby room where our friends from Paris were feeding thier baby. I walk in and there is Sean holding a bowl mashing up bananas for them! He stayed most of the visit helping out in the younger baby room. He stopped in every so often to hug and kiss his sister...then went back to visit his friends. Amazing. I think he may be offered a job.
After I returned to the apartment around 5 or so, a knock on our apartment door. Weird...who knows us, let alone speaks English? A few weeks ago, I started talking to a young girl (Naz) and she remembered us. She was so nice and had her sister with her. They offered to take us on a walk to the park. They wanted to learn about America! It was such fun. After we returned home and finished dinner (yes, I am cooking in the apartment, and getting very good!) their twin brothers came down and asked if Sean could go hang out in their apartment. He was gone in a flash.
Craig and I were alone in the apartment!! What ever would we do??? He was still sick! Oh well...we finished our 100th movie of the trip, and waited for Little Red to return.
Saturday is baby house visits and the beginning of packing. ;-(
After I returned to the apartment around 5 or so, a knock on our apartment door. Weird...who knows us, let alone speaks English? A few weeks ago, I started talking to a young girl (Naz) and she remembered us. She was so nice and had her sister with her. They offered to take us on a walk to the park. They wanted to learn about America! It was such fun. After we returned home and finished dinner (yes, I am cooking in the apartment, and getting very good!) their twin brothers came down and asked if Sean could go hang out in their apartment. He was gone in a flash.
Craig and I were alone in the apartment!! What ever would we do??? He was still sick! Oh well...we finished our 100th movie of the trip, and waited for Little Red to return.
Saturday is baby house visits and the beginning of packing. ;-(
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Pre Court Day and Departure Date
We woke to another beautiful day...bright blue sky and cool temperatures...around 65 degrees I would say. This week has warmed only to around 70 or so, it is amazing.
The judge this morning was a kind as she could be. We are her first adoption case, and it could have either went really well, or really bad. She was smiling and asking questions about us as a family as she went through the pictures. We had to time stamp our 14 days of visits for the record. Our court date is Monday, which means we leave Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
Right now, I am eager to get home. Come Monday, we will say 'see you soon' to our Lily (only for 3 weeks), and goodbye to some of the most kind, loving, and giving people I have ever been blessed to meet who have taken such great care of our daughter. Despite language barriers, the love of children has a very common and easy translation here. Lily's two nanny's have my heart, as do her caregivers (caregivers are nurses, nanny's are not). Sean receives huge hugs and kisses each morning from all of them. They adore the little red head, and hug on him contstantly. I hope Sean can keep it together on Monday when we say farewell...he already cries each time we leave Lily at nap time. Heaven knows I will be a mess.
The judge this morning was a kind as she could be. We are her first adoption case, and it could have either went really well, or really bad. She was smiling and asking questions about us as a family as she went through the pictures. We had to time stamp our 14 days of visits for the record. Our court date is Monday, which means we leave Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
Right now, I am eager to get home. Come Monday, we will say 'see you soon' to our Lily (only for 3 weeks), and goodbye to some of the most kind, loving, and giving people I have ever been blessed to meet who have taken such great care of our daughter. Despite language barriers, the love of children has a very common and easy translation here. Lily's two nanny's have my heart, as do her caregivers (caregivers are nurses, nanny's are not). Sean receives huge hugs and kisses each morning from all of them. They adore the little red head, and hug on him contstantly. I hope Sean can keep it together on Monday when we say farewell...he already cries each time we leave Lily at nap time. Heaven knows I will be a mess.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Last Full Week In Karaganda
Looks like court will likely be Aug. 18 as we anticipated. Pre-court isn't until this Thursday. It's ok with us! Hard to believe we will leave for home sometime next week. It's a mixed blessing...we are very sad to leave Lily behind for 3 weeks, but getting excited to return and see all of you. I keep forgetting the thumb drive to post pictures. Sorry! We will upload them to Snapfish when we return.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Lily!
Now for some details on our girl. Her big brother can't get enough of her...he even changes diapers. Number 1 only at this point. Number 2 is a stretch...for all of us! Craig and I have to get back in practice with a wiggly baby during diaper changes.
The first week she couldn't sit up on her own...now she is pulling up and crawling really fast especially if she wants something. It is so cute. She smiles non stop - except for when we walk away and appear as if we have stopped feeding her. Food everywhere on her face, she loves to play while she eats which makes for great fun for all of us. Breakfast is a rice 'pudding' of sort with yogurt. She drinks juice made from dried apples, dates, apricots and raisins with sugar in water. It looks like tea. In the afternoon it's some kind of mashed up bread soaked in more rice stuff with ground beef bits. Her drink is a pink gelatin with sugar and water.
She has the sweetest disposition...not a fussy child. She is very active, content, and giggles all thet time. Her little grin shows her two front teeth and giant dimples in her chubby little cheeks.
We are all crazy about her. I can't wait to braid her hair and put on cute little outfits! Hats are really big here for children...even in 70 degree weather. I have only bought 2 hats so far. It's very hard to resist not buying more.
We all love the care givers and nanny's. We have pictures of all of them, as well as her room, the pots they poo on and much more. Prepare for lots of pics upon return.
Love to you all.
Terri
The first week she couldn't sit up on her own...now she is pulling up and crawling really fast especially if she wants something. It is so cute. She smiles non stop - except for when we walk away and appear as if we have stopped feeding her. Food everywhere on her face, she loves to play while she eats which makes for great fun for all of us. Breakfast is a rice 'pudding' of sort with yogurt. She drinks juice made from dried apples, dates, apricots and raisins with sugar in water. It looks like tea. In the afternoon it's some kind of mashed up bread soaked in more rice stuff with ground beef bits. Her drink is a pink gelatin with sugar and water.
She has the sweetest disposition...not a fussy child. She is very active, content, and giggles all thet time. Her little grin shows her two front teeth and giant dimples in her chubby little cheeks.
We are all crazy about her. I can't wait to braid her hair and put on cute little outfits! Hats are really big here for children...even in 70 degree weather. I have only bought 2 hats so far. It's very hard to resist not buying more.
We all love the care givers and nanny's. We have pictures of all of them, as well as her room, the pots they poo on and much more. Prepare for lots of pics upon return.
Love to you all.
Terri
Thursday!
I just looked at my last post...it was on Monday. It is now Thursday and we are nearly through our third week. Notary was on Tuesday and waiting on our pre-court date. Found two new amazing restaurants near the apartment, one Asian the other Italian. YEA! The girl who waited on us spent her summer at Cape Cod and simply gushed about Boston and the Cape. She was wonderful and delighted to help us.
It's wonderful to be a little family here...and Craig and I take turns spending morning/afternoons with Sean and Lily. The weather is amazing and almost an indian summer temp, and very cold at night which makes for great sleeping.
Not one of us is ready to come home yet! Funny, I wouldn't have believed it prior to our visit. Craig misses his weekend newspaper, and we all miss our Ryan and Packer!
As of now, it still looks like a return sometime around August 19th. Not sure...nothing so far has been textbook..it's actually been better, as things have been very smooth. Don't want to jinx it.
It's wonderful to be a little family here...and Craig and I take turns spending morning/afternoons with Sean and Lily. The weather is amazing and almost an indian summer temp, and very cold at night which makes for great sleeping.
Not one of us is ready to come home yet! Funny, I wouldn't have believed it prior to our visit. Craig misses his weekend newspaper, and we all miss our Ryan and Packer!
As of now, it still looks like a return sometime around August 19th. Not sure...nothing so far has been textbook..it's actually been better, as things have been very smooth. Don't want to jinx it.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Day 14
Pretty big day, nothing changes really, but it's a milestone in this trip. Thought I would detail a few interesting things about Karaganda...Kaz in general.
1) No squirrels or variety of birds...just giant pigeons that scare the hell out of me.
2) Dogs are ugly, and few have them as pets...they are street 'dogs'
3) Water smells in our apartment, but it works. Water pressure is hit or miss. Craig started shaving while I was in the shower. I have a third degree burn on my hiney.
4) Ever tried lobster flavored potato chips? How about cavier.... Better yet, how about Mayo and Tomato flavored Pringels? Nope, have not tried any as of this writing.
5) Street walking is a hazard to your well being...I fear being impailed with a rusty old pipe that is sticking out of the ground, concrete steps, or buildings. They are everywhere. I am ready to put Sean on a leash in hope of keeping him on the road and out of the emergency room.
6) Young kids love to talk to us...they know Hello, How are you, and How old are you. Love it. I am 29 by the way in my little utopia.
7) Wondering how the painted on jeans of all the women here ever come off. My shorts and running shoes are a dead give away.
8) Karaganda beer is awesome! I don't drink beer...but Neal and Jeff...it rocks!
9) The hallway outside our apartment is yet another death trap - insulation, windows, sheet rock, long strips of metal just laying around...amid strollers and a giant toy jeep. Again, I breath a sigh of relief when Sean makes it from A-Z with out a cut or fall.
10) We love it here...and can honestly say that we don't miss the hustle and bustle of reality!
tp
1) No squirrels or variety of birds...just giant pigeons that scare the hell out of me.
2) Dogs are ugly, and few have them as pets...they are street 'dogs'
3) Water smells in our apartment, but it works. Water pressure is hit or miss. Craig started shaving while I was in the shower. I have a third degree burn on my hiney.
4) Ever tried lobster flavored potato chips? How about cavier.... Better yet, how about Mayo and Tomato flavored Pringels? Nope, have not tried any as of this writing.
5) Street walking is a hazard to your well being...I fear being impailed with a rusty old pipe that is sticking out of the ground, concrete steps, or buildings. They are everywhere. I am ready to put Sean on a leash in hope of keeping him on the road and out of the emergency room.
6) Young kids love to talk to us...they know Hello, How are you, and How old are you. Love it. I am 29 by the way in my little utopia.
7) Wondering how the painted on jeans of all the women here ever come off. My shorts and running shoes are a dead give away.
8) Karaganda beer is awesome! I don't drink beer...but Neal and Jeff...it rocks!
9) The hallway outside our apartment is yet another death trap - insulation, windows, sheet rock, long strips of metal just laying around...amid strollers and a giant toy jeep. Again, I breath a sigh of relief when Sean makes it from A-Z with out a cut or fall.
10) We love it here...and can honestly say that we don't miss the hustle and bustle of reality!
tp
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